The profession of dental hygiene in Bahrain: a dental hygiene educator working and living in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Access, March, 2008 by Claudine Paula Drew

The students travel from the College of Health Sciences to one of the Ministry of Health's medical/dental clinics, the Naim Clinic, which is a few miles away from the college. The dental section of this health clinic covers the entire second floor, with the medical section located on the first floor. The dental hygiene clinic has six brand new A-dec chairs, a 10-station simulator laboratory (Figure 3), a faculty office and a dedicated classroom.

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First-year students participate in lab and clinical sessions twice a week, while second-year students (Figures 4 and 5) come the other two or three remaining days for dental materials, oral radiology (Figure 6), clinicals and didactic courses. Upon completion of the curriculum, the students are graduated with an associate degree. This credential allows them to practice within the Kingdom at the Ministry of Health clinics and in private locations. As with all foreign-trained dental professionals, this degree does not meet American standards for licensure.

The dental hygiene program is considering the expansion of its program from the two-and-a-half-year associate degree to a four-year Bachelor of Science degree. It is strongly believed that through this additional coursework and practicum, the College of Health Sciences Dental Hygiene Program can produce an expanded function dental hygiene practitioner who can better serve the citizens of Bahrain. As head of the dental hygiene program, Parise feels that the development of a four-year degree in dental hygiene can serve not only Bahrain, but also the entire Gulf region. Formerly, Parise was the director of the BS degree-completion program at Forsyth School for Dental Hygiene in Boston, Mass. She is looking into advanced coursework with the Public Health Program and the School of Education (for future dental hygiene educators) and into expanded functions courses in periodontal maintenance therapy. Even though the four-year program may be a few years away, Parise feels that the college can still serve the Gulf region by accepting more applicants, not only from Bahrain but also from the surrounding countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Living in the Kingdom of Bahrain

In 1861, Bahrain signed a treaty with Britain, who offered protection from the Ottoman Empire. Bahrain, in turn, allowed unlimited access by the British to their island. After 110 years, the British granted Bahrain its independence in 1971. However, it remains a magnet for a large number of British expatriates (expats), who enjoy the weather, the friendliness of the citizens and the easy lifestyle. There are many other nationalities from the surrounding area of the Asian and Indian continents who come to make a better living for themselves and their families. They serve as housemaids, construction works, sales force and members of the service industry along with many other occupations. There are few Americans left here, many having returned home after the beginning of the Gulf War.